This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power.

Monday, March 03, 2014

Slow boat to China from Crimea

The 2nd Ukrainian Zubr LCAC purchased by the China Navy has left port of Feodosiya and on its way to China.

All is well in Crimea.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Update on the Chinese Zubr buy

* The first imported Ukrainian hull is undergoing sea trials in the Pearl River

* The domestically constructed first copy of Zubr LCAC is also proceeding nicely in Guangzhou

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Could th is be the Chinese Zubr?

According to the deal reached 2009, China has the blueprint to
construct its own Zubr LCAC. Judging from the following photos, they
might have mastered the know-how and starting building their own rather
then waiting for the 2nd Ukrainian-built Zubr to arrive for further
study.

Photo of the day: Handover of the Zubr LCAC to the PLAN

Friday, July 02, 2010

The Zubr deal has been finalized.

The last update on the Zubr deal transpired in April 2010 (here). after a prolonged negotiation, the deal seems to have finalized.

Blueprints are to be handed over to the Chinese side under the project, according to some sources

Expect a Chinese export variant coming to a trade-show soon.

(Thanks dylan for the news)

KYIV. July 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The
implementation of a contract to build high-speed hovercrafts of the
Zubr-type for China at the Morye shipyard in Feodosia will start in
September, Prime Minister of Crimea Vasyl Dzharty said.

"The construction of the first two hovercrafts will begin in September," Dzharty said at the shipyard.

Crimea and Ukraine continue looking for new orders for Feodosia shipyards, he said.

"I think orders will come from Russia and from Ukraine," he added.

Earlier
reports said that a $350 million contract for the construction of four
high-speed amphibious hovercrafts of the Zubr-type for China was
concluded by Ukrainian arms trader Ukrspetsexport in 2009.

Two
were to be built in Ukraine and two in China with Ukrainian experts'
participation. Blueprints are to be handed over to the Chinese side
under the project, according to some sources.

Ukraine, Russia and
Greece signed a trilateral contract in January 2000 for the delivery of
four similar hovercrafts to Greece - two by Ukraine and two by Russia,
worth a total of about $200 million. The contract with Ukraine was worth
about $97 million and with Russia some $101 million.

The
high-speed amphibious hovercraft of the Zubr-type is capable of carrying
150 tons of cargo, including up to three medium tanks, or 500 Marines.
The hovercraft can develop a speed of over 60 knots (about 120
kilometers per hour) on land, water and ice. It can tackle obstacles of
up to 1.5 meters high. Zubr has five 5 hp gas turbines.